Four "teachable moments" for "planetary health" or how to integrate sustainable healthcare topics into clinical courses in family medicine for undergraduate medical students.

This article discusses the integration of planetary health and sustainable healthcare into family medicine education, focusing on undergraduate medical training. While environmental impacts on health have been recognized since ancient times, the urgency of addressing climate change in healthcare has escalated, especially as the healthcare sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The article highlights practical ways for medical educators to incorporate sustainable healthcare practices in family medicine settings. Through four "teachable moments", it demonstrates how medical students can engage in sustainability efforts, from reducing practice carbon footprints to minimizing unnecessary tests and treatments. The challenges of incorporating planetary health into an already crowded medical curriculum are acknowledged, and the authors propose an integrative approach, leveraging family practices' flexibility. They emphasize the importance of involving students in sustainability efforts, fostering bidirectional learning that benefits both the teaching practice and the students' future careers.